Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current average annual running cost of an operational(a) type 23 frigate, (b) type 22 frigate, (c) type 21 frigate, (d) Leander class frigate, (e) type 42 destroyer, (f) type 82 destroyer, (g) anti-submarine warfare carrier, (h) assault ship, (i) type 2400 submarine, (j) Oberon class submarine, (k) Fleet class submarine, (l) Ton class minesweeper, (m) Ton class minehunter and (n) Hunt class minehunter;
(2) what is the current average annual running cost of a squadron of (a) Sea Harrier aircraft, (b) Sea King HAS 5 anti-submarine helicopters, (c) Lynx HAS 2/3 anti-submarine helicopters, (d) Sea King AEW 2 helicopters and (e) Sea King HC 4 commando assault helicopters.
§ Mr. Archie Hamilton[holding answer 26 February 1990]: The current average annual running costs (at financial year 1988–89 prices) of the following Royal Navy vessels are:
£ million (a) Type 23 frigate 5.3 (b) Type 22 frigate 5.6 (c) Type 21 frigate 3.9 (d) Leander class frigate 4.2 (e) Type 42 destroyer 6.0 (f) Type 82 destroyer 6.5 (g) Anti-submarine warfare carrier 21.4 (h) Assault ship 9.0 (i) Type 2400 submarine 3.4 (j) Oberon class submarine 2.4 (k) Fleet submarine 4.4 (l) Ton class minesweeper 1.0 (m) Ton class minehunter 0.5 (n) Hunt class minehunter 0.9 The current average annual running costs (at financial year 1988–89 prices) of a squadron of the following Royal Navy aircraft are:
£ million (a) Sea Harrier 0.8 (b) Sea King HAS 5/6 anti-submarine helicopter 1.6 (c) Lynx (including all operational Lynx helicopters) 0.5 (d) Sea King AEW2 0.6 (e) Sea King HC4 commando assault helicopter 0.9 These costs include personnel, fuel, spares and so on, and administrative support services, but exclude new construction, capital equipment and refit-repair costs.